About the reportThis report attempts to map workforce aspirations of young women and girls from urban areas in India. It seeks to benchmark these aspirations against existing employment opportunities. In doing so, the report identifies the multitude of barriers and constraints women face.

The report is based on a field survey carried out by Ernst & Young in selected urban, peri-urban and rural locations in and around the cities of Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

The analyses, insights and conclusions hope to inform the formulation of programmes and initiatives that can help women and girls realize their aspirations.

Key Findings

2.7%

Lack of information is a barrier to employment opportunities

56.0%NCR

23.5% 4.2% 10.8% 5.4%

Mumbai

23.4% 30.9% 12.6% 11.4% 21.7%

Hyderabad

25.9% 31.6% 9.2% 16.1% 17.2%

Bangalore

30.8% 19.9% 22% 35.5%

Lack of information is a barrier to entrepreneurship opportunities

62.7%NCR

26.5% 3.0% 4.8% 3.0%

Mumbai33.1% 22.9% 10.9% 10.9% 22.3%

Hyderabad

35.6% 21.8% 12.1% 14.4% 16.1%

Bangalore

43.5% 29.6% 4.8% 18.3% 3.8%

51.8%NCR

23.5% 7.2% 10.2% 7.2%

Mumbai20.0% 27.4% 14.9% 7.4% 30.3%

Hyderabad

27.6% 28.2% 12.6% 17.2% 14.4%

Bangalore

26.9% 28.0% 8.6% 24.2% 12.4%

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly DisagreeStrongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Lack of information is a critical barrier to availing skilling opportunities

Lack of information is a critical barrier in availing opportunities for skill development, employment and entrepreneurshipB

High Low

Passed through generations

Preference for employment over entrepreneurship

Clear preference for employment over entrepreneurshipPercentage of women reporting past participation in formal skills training(s)

CA

39.8% 39.7% 43.4%

64.5%

60.2% 60.3% 56.6%

35.5%

Employment Entrepreneurship

Bangalore Hyderabad Mumbai NCR

17.3%

6.3%

76.4%

Influenced by monetary reasons

Influenced by family opinion

Influenced by decisions taken by other women

Personal aspirations

Bangalore Hyderabad Mumbai NCR

38.7%

38.0%

12.9%

12.4%

40.8%

36.8%

9.8%

12.6%

14.3%

6.3%

49.7%

29.7%

38.6%

30.1%

8.4%

22.9%

External factors and agents guiding/directing women and girls’ aspirations

Sector Bangalore Hyderabad Mumbai NCR

Agriculture 4.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Banking & Financial Services 0.5% 0.0% 9.1% 3.0%

Beauty & Wellness 6.5 7.5% 23.4% 9.6%

Domestic Help 1.1% 5.7% 0.6% 6.6%

Education & Skill Development 5.9% 4.6% 9.1% 6.0%

Food Processing 1.6% 0.0% 10.9% 1.8%

Furniture & Furnishings 0.5% 0.0% 2.3% 0.0%

Handlooms & Handicraft 8.1% 6.9% 0.0% 4.2%

Health Care Services 0.0% 0.6% 2.9% 0.0%

IT & ITES 13.4% 6.3% 3.4% 4.2%

Leather & Leather Goods 1.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Media & Entertainment 0.5% 0.0% 1.1% 0.0%

Others (Sports & Performing Arts) 0.5% 1.1% 0.0% 7.2%

Private Security Services 0.0% 0.0% 5.1% 0.0%

Retail Sector 10.8% 1.7% 2.3% 6.6%

Textile & Clothing Industry 42.5% 60.9% 24.0% 47.6%

Tourism, Travel, Hospitality & Trade 1.6% 4.0% 1.7% 2.4%

Transport, Logistics, Warehousing & Packaging 0.0% 0.0% 4.0% 0.6%

Cells marked in cream refer to sectors which have emerged as prominent across all four cities. On the other hand cells marked in blue refer to sectors which have been found to be prominent in specific cities.

Require support/training on business management

Do not require support/training on business management skills

Women’s Voices: EmploymEnt And EntrEprEnEurship in indiA

Sectors where women and girls aspire to work; disaggregated by city

Sectors of choiceD

Percentage of women reporting the need for training on business management

Low baselineE

Conclusions

• Developastructuredplatformforinformationdissemination.

• Reshapedesignanddeliveryoftrainingskeepinginviewtheaspirations,constraintsandbarriersfacedbywomen.

• Providewell-structuredentrepreneurialtrainingprogrammes.

• Adoptsuitablemechanismstoprovideeasyaccesstofinanceforwomenandgirls.

• Roll-outcommunicationfordevelopmentcampaignthatseekstomobilizecommunitiestowardssupportingtheworkforceaspirationsofwomenandgirls.

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Forthecompletereport,pleasevisit:www.in.undp.org